Navarathri Day 2 – October 18 – Brahmacharini

Sathya Sai Baba makes some very powerful statements about the strength of women and the role of women as agents of change. He describes the innate sacred qualities of women as patience, fortitude, sacrifice, compassion, love and repositories of truth and culture. He teaches that in the Bhagavad Gita, it is revealed that women have seven kinds of powers whereas men have only three, highlighting that the basis of prosperity and happiness comes from women being honoured and respected.

Bhagavad Gita 10:34 … Of the qualities that, due to their grace and tenderness, are termed ‘female’, I am fame and fortune, sweet speech, memory, intelligence, steadfast perseverance, loyalty, and forgiveness.

To make up the nine nights, we will add repositories of truth and culture to the list given from the Bhagavad Gita.

Here Brahma means ‘one who constantly meditates on the Supreme Being’. Brahmacharini is highly pious and is a peaceful form or is in meditation. She is also known as Tapashcharini, Aparna and Uma. This form of Durga is related to the severe penance undertaken by Sati and Parvati in their respective births to attain Lord Shiva as husband. Some of the most important fasts observed in different parts of India by women are based on the strict austerities followed by Brahmacharini.

Stuti:
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha

Importance of the Mother

There is nothing greater than mother’s love. Mother’s words are always sweet. At times she may use harsh words, but they are meant only to correct you, not to hurt you. There may be a wicked son, but there can never be a wicked mother in this world. Around the world, Mothers’ Day is declared only to make you understand the value of mother’s love and her concern for you. Among mother, father, teacher and God, mother is given the top-most priority. In this day and age, young people and so-called “modern youth” do not care for the mother. They think they are highly educated and that the mother does not know anything. It is a great mistake to think so.

Never look down upon the mother. Even the mother should not compel her children to accede to her wishes. Through love and sincerity she should put the children on the proper path. She should aspire that her children be good, they need not be great.

The power within a woman to select a path of strict austerity is unknown to the husband and children, if they do not respect the mother. Respect transmits a partial understanding of the power of a mother’s vow, the strength of a mother’s perseverance and the triumph of the selflessness of the mother’s love. A family is only as secure as the love the Mother has for her husband and children. The (other) names given to Brahmacarini Devi – Tapashcharini, Aparna and Uma illustrate this. Tapashcarini is the woman who steadfastly follows the path of austerity; Uma means mother, Aparna means the Mother who does not have even leaves for food during religious austerities. Such is the strength of sankalpa (will) of one we call Mother in the home.

 

In the dark night sky
the stars are shining
jewels on the body
of the Goddess of Night.

She walked the path that descends to death;
herself still living, she braved the journey,
and brought rebirth to those beyond hope
dwelling in the coldest regions
in the halls of Earth.
Facing Death boldly, she led him to leave
and taught him the secrets that only she knew.
It was her great courage that taught us to dare
and her example that we should follow
in the heart of trouble that may beset us.

108 Names of the Divine Mother (English)

Om… I bow to SHE who is the Mother of the Universe.

Each of the Divine Names (in English) ends with ~ swaha.

When you use the Sanskrit word swaha you are invoking the God / Goddess, you are arousing the God / Goddess to come and witness your action, to come and receive your prayer.

We append these 108 Names of the Divine Mother and pray that you will be understanding the significance of the prayers, along with the efficacy of same.

Download the 108 Names of the Divine Mother